Rip This Joint was my Valentine to the music that I thought mattered. I edited, wrote and maintained it from about 2004 to 2006; a labour of love that I kept going long after I realized nobody was paying attention.

Still, it helped me get over my ambitions of being a music critic, for which a grateful world can probably heave a sigh of relief. I'm just too unhip and out of step, perhaps, to ever reach any reasonable sized audience, too willing to admit a love for well-crafted pop and obscure agit prop, or too little inclined to lick the flavour of the day.

What can I say? I like what I like, and I tried to say why. I tried to be honest and fair, and I've never regretted doing it.

So, I've left it all here. Maybe you'll agree, maybe not. But it was fun while it lasted.

So, even though this ship has sailed, any comments would be extremely welcome. Just e-mail me -- I don't bite.

And in the meantime, keep listening... there's great music out there.



 Music Reviews & Other Writings


"Come back, baby, rock'n'roll never forgets."
Bob Seger

"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."
Frank Zappa
 


Now Playing
in Personal Heavy Rotation:

Leonard Cohen, Warren Zevon, The Tragically Hip, The Pogues, old Bob Seger, Cowboy Junkies, Blue Rodeo, Billy Bragg, 10cc, Southern Comfort on the Skids, Bruce Springsteen, Woody Guthrie, Kathleen Edwards, Great Big Sea.

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The Latest Reviews:

Also listed alphabetically, by artist.


Okay, I confess. I'm still a rock'n'roll kid at heart, even though I'm way past my prime. It's been a long strange trip, and I've weathered it all, the good (rock, punk, soul, R&B, country and folk), the bad (some gangsta rap, some heavy metal) and the ugly (disco, prog-rock and The Carpenters). But I draw the line at show tunes and opera.

This site is a way for me to showcase some of my music writing, and have a little fun (okay, a lotta fun). It ain't no big thing -- no big bells and whistles, just a low key labour of love more than anything.

The basic concept is get 'em, listen to 'em, and review 'em. Preferably in a hundred words or less. At the risk of sounding like regurgitated Billy Joel -- roots music, blues, soul, punk, funk, country, old school, new wave, Americana, Adult Alternative, whatever -- it's all rock'n'roll to me.

Or to quote Danny and the Juniors, a group way cooler than Mr. Joel ever was or ever will be:

"It will stand."


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